FunctionCommon junctional plaque protein. The membrane-associated plaques are architectural elements in an important strategic position to influence the arrangement and function of both the cytoskeleton and the cells within the tissue. The presence of plakoglobin in both the desmosomes and in the intermediate junctions suggests that it plays a central role in the structure and function of submembranous plaques. Acts as a substrate for VE-PTP and is required by it to stimulate VE-cadherin function in endothelial cells. Can replace beta-catenin in E-cadherin/catenin adhesion complexes which are proposed to couple cadherins to the actin cytoskeleton.

Involvement in diseaseDefects in JUP are the cause of Naxos disease (NXD) [MIM:601214]. NXD is an autosomal recessive disorder combining diffuse non-epidermolytic palmoplantar keratoderma with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy and woolly hair.Defects in JUP are the cause of familial arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia type 12 (ARVD12) [MIM:611528]; also called arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy 12 (ARVC12). ARVD is an autosomal dominant disease characterized by partial degeneration of the myocardium of the right ventricle, electrical instability, and sudden death. It is clinically defined by electrocardiographic and angiographic criteria; pathologic findings, replacement of ventricular myocardium with fatty and fibrous elements, preferentially involve the right ventricular free wall.